Writing for the internet is different than other types of writing. It’s less formal and more conversational. There is still a general structure that most articles follow, but it’s loose and it can be tailored to your brand. In this blog, we’ll discuss some writing tips that you can use for your business’s website.
Keep it Simple
The average American reads at or below an 8th grade level. This means the copy on your website should be written with that in mind. Use simple words and short sentences (roughly 20 words or less). Break up your copy into paragraphs. Use headings for organization. Check out tools like the Hemingway Editor that help gauge the difficulty level of your article. You should also use bulleted or numbered lists to make content more digestible. A good rule of thumb for list-writing: if your sentence mentions more than three things, break it up into a list. All of these things can help you to keep your writing simple and easy to understand.
Write to Your Audience
A lot of formal writing discourages the use of first or second person. Depending on the type of business you run, you may find that third person is the best option. Most businesses, however, should consider writing to their audience. This means referring to your reader as “you.” Writing this way can make your website more conversational and approachable. Here are two example sentences to better show what we mean.
“Business owners who choose to market their business often find more success than those who don’t.”
“As a business owner, choosing to market your business will often bring you more success than choosing not to.”
Do you see the difference? There’s nothing wrong with the first sentence, but it’s a bit more formal and a bit less engaging. The second sentence pulls you in as the subject. It’s less like reading a detached article and more like talking with someone.
Quality over Quantity
Write content that is high in quality, not high in quantity. The internet is very fast paced. There can be pressure to put out a lot of content and to do it quickly. Sometimes this can work for social media, but it’s not a great strategy for your website. It’s better for both SEO and customer use to prioritize quality over quantity.
The higher the quality of your content, the more customers will trust you. The more they trust you, the more likely they’ll be to buy from you. By writing clearly and cleanly about your area of expertise, you can establish your business as a trusted source and gain credibility with your customers. Don’t get caught up in the hype of quick content and don’t blindly post cheap AI articles. Stick with quality over quantity.
Want more help? Contact Bold River Marketing.
Do you want help with writing or managing a blog? Do you have a website but you’re not really sure what to do with it? Are you full of ideas but lacking the time to put those ideas into action? Bold River Marketing can help. We can design an optimized website, keep it updated, and help you promote your business through quality writing. Contact us today to get started.